A FTER a long battle, readers have chosen East Surrey's Top Dog.
Buddy, an 18-month-old Lhasa Apso, has been crowned the winner following an online poll on surreymirror.co.uk.
The picture of Buddy running through grass with a smile on his face beat 93 other pooches who were vying for the title.
Buddy's Owner Amanda Blatch, of Redhill, said: "I'm very excited that my little Buddy has won the Top Dog competition.
"I really didn't expect him to win, when you look at the 93 dogs he was up against."
Miss Blatch, who works in human resources for Surrey Fire and Rescue Service, added: "I got him when he was only 12 weeks old. He's a little pickle, he's got such a lot of character.
"He loves children and playing with other dogs. And although he's very little, he thinks he's a big one.
"We do agility classes and he does obedience classes, Buddy's got a busier social life than I have.
"I have grown up with dogs but he's my first dog as in the only dog I have had by myself. I love all animals, but I obviously prefer dogs over cats. If I won the lottery I would buy a farm."
As a prize for winning Top Dog, Buddy has won a photo shoot with one of our professional photographers and will soon be sent a framed picture from the shoot.
Miss Blatch said: "This is the first proper competition we have won. I would like to [enter more], if he's won this one who knows where he could end up.
"He's very photogenic so I hope so, it could be the first of many, you never know.
"I'm over the moon, really pleased. We are aiming for Hollywood."
She's also promised Buddy some treats as a prize for winning: "Once I have done the photo shoot I will probably take him for an extra special walk down the coast."
Mirror editor Deanne Blaylock said: "I would like to offer my congratulations to Buddy and Amanda.
"Buddy is a worthy winner of what was a tightly fought contest.
"He really is a top dog."
